Chapter 44-The Woman Beside the Prince
The political crisis began with pepper.
Vinaya found that deeply amusing.
Vikram did not.
"If Samudrapuri raises the export levy again, Krishnagiri's merchants will simply purchase through Aaranyakarajya."
Vinaya looked up from the report.
"No, they won't."
Vikram paused.
They were in his study.
"You sound certain."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Aaranyakarajya doesn't have enough storage capacity."
Vikram frowned.
"The minister says they expanded their warehouses."
"Where?"
He handed her the report.
Vinaya read it.
Then laughed.
"What?"
"This figure is impossible."
Vikram came beside her.
She pointed.
"They claim to have doubled capacity in six months."
"Yes."
"With what timber?"
He frowned.
"Explain."
Vinaya spread several reports across the desk.
"Krishnagiri supplies most of their construction timber."
Understanding slowly appeared on Vikram's face.
"Our exports haven't increased."
"Exactly."
He looked at her.
"So the warehouses don't exist."
"Or they are significantly smaller than reported."
Vikram stared at the documents.
Krishnagiri had been preparing to reject Samudrapuri's trade terms based entirely upon the assumption that an alternative route existed.
It didn't.
The mistake could cost the kingdom enormously.
"You're coming to council."
Vinaya's head snapped up.
"No."
"Yes."
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Because there are thirty men in that room who have spent decades becoming professionally unpleasant."
Vikram laughed.
"You just prevented those professionally unpleasant men from making a disastrous decision."
"Then tell them."
"You tell them."
Vinaya went pale.
"No."
He stopped smiling.
"Why?"
"I can't."
"You can."
"Vikram."
He recognized genuine fear.
His voice softened.
"You don't have to."
Relief crossed her face.
Then he added, "But I think you should."
She glared.
"That was manipulative."
"Probably."
At council, Vinaya sat beside Lakshmidevi.
She expected Vikram to present her findings.
Instead, he said:
"The Crown Princess discovered an inconsistency in the Aaranyakarajya reports."
Thirty faces turned toward her.
Vinaya wanted to die.
Vikram did not rescue her.
He simply met her eyes.
You know this.
She could almost hear him.
Vinaya stood.
Her first sentence trembled.
The second less so.
By the fifth, she forgot to be afraid.
Numbers were numbers.
Trade was trade.
Facts did not care whether the person speaking them was shy.
When she finished, silence filled the chamber.
Then one minister objected.
Vinaya answered.
Another questioned her calculation.
She corrected his.
Vikram lowered his head to hide a smile.
King Amarendra noticed.
So did Lakshmidevi.
Afterward, Amarendra looked directly at his daughter-in-law.
"Princess Vinayakumari."
Vinaya's heart sank.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Tomorrow we discuss the revised trade agreement."
"Yes."
"I would like you to address the council yourself."
Vinaya stared.
Vikram said nothing.
And somehow his silence felt like greater faith than rescuing her ever could.